Comments Off on Penspen secures $70m contract with ADNOC Onshore
Penspen, a leading global provider of engineering and project management services to the energy industry, has been awarded a contract by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Onshore, with a value exceeding $70million.
The project is for the provision of project management consultancy (PMC) services for the company’s fifteen major projects and will cover different stages of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) activities, from EPC tendering stage to commissioning and close out.
ADNOC Onshore is the leading onshore producer within ADNOC Group, producing 1.6 million barrels of oil and 5.6 billion cubic feet of gas per day. With operations underpinned by a strict health and safety focus, the company fits well with the ethos of Penspen for this project.
Peter O’Sullivan, chief executive officer of Penspen, said: “Penspen has built a reputation in the Middle East as a reliable and established provider of services to the oil and gas sector and this contract win reinforces this.
“These projects will provide Penspen the opportunity to utilise the vast expertise and knowledge it has to ensure that ADNOC Onshore receives excellent project management consultancy services.
“To secure such a substantial contract is fantastic and we look forward to continuing our work in the region with ADNOC Onshore to the highest possible standard, that has become synonymous with Penspen.”
Penspen has been delivering its services to clients in the Middle East for over 40 years. The company, headquartered in London, has an office in Abu Dhabi where the work for ADNOC will be delivered from.
Penspen is at ADIPEC 2018 and is exhibiting on Stand 8238, Hall 8.
Comments Off on Penspen Signs Agreement of Intent with Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco
Penspen, a leading global provider of engineering, asset integrity and project management services to the energy industry, has signed an agreement of intent with the Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco (UJAT) to launch a master’s degree in Integrity Management and Corrosion.
Both Peter O’Sullivan, chief executive officer of Penspen and Dr. Jose Manuel Piña Gutierrez, the rector of the UJAT signed the agreement earlier this month. Taking place in the rectory of the university in Villahermosa, Mexico, both the university authorities and representatives from Penspen witnessed the signing.
Currently in development, the launch of this new course will strengthen Penspen’s training capabilities and further build on its relationship with UJAT.
The agreement of intent confirms Penspen’s support of professional development in Mexico through the transfer of knowledge and good practices. Technical knowledge acquired from the experience of working with a range of clients throughout Latin America will be included within the content of the course.
Penspen has been operating in Mexico for 21 years and has now expanded to include offices across Latin America and the US. These include offices in Villahermosa and Ciudad Del Carmen, as well as in Santiago, Chile and Houston, US.
Comments Off on Penspen Alliance with Crestech Secures PMC Deal with NNPC
Penspen, a leading global provider of engineering and project management services to the energy industry, and Nigerian engineering firm Crestech, have signed their largest contract to date after forming a strategic alliance in November 2016.
The companies have secured a deal with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) for the provision of project management consultancy services across four gas projects in the Niger Delta region, with work already in hand.
The scope of services under the project management consultancy (PMC) contract includes, but not limited to, the following four identified critical gas development projects; Oil Mining Lease
(OMLs) 24 and 18 Joint Development, OMLs 26,30,32,42 and Makaraba Clusters Development, OML 13 Cluster Development, OML 35/62 Okpokunou / Tuomo West Cluster Development.
The scope of work covers project management services, as well as personnel support, throughout the duration of the planned gas development, initially expected to be completed by 2020.
Peter O’Sullivan, chief executive officer of Penspen, said: “Our partnership with Crestech allows us to deliver the full range of work required by NNPC in Nigeria and this highlights a positive step in our relationship and growth in the region. The strategic alliance allows the best of both companies to be brought together to deliver positive results for clients.
“The seven gas projects will help NNPC to achieve its overall gas supply goals to support Nigeria’s National Gas Policy (NGP) 2017. We look forward to working with NNPC and Crestech over the next four years.”
The managing director of Crestech Engineering, Engr. ‘Gbola Sobande, expressed his excitement to have Crestech play such a key role in moving Nigeria closer to its gas development goals. He stated that “jointly delivering a project of great significance to Nigeria, along with Penspen, will help strengthen the relationship between the two partners, while also further solidifying Crestech’s position as a leading indigenous oil and gas engineering company that is recognised across Nigeria.
The partnership allows Penspen and Crestech to provide engineering, project management and asset integrity services for oil, gas and energy assets in Nigeria. This project will combine Penspen’s global expertise with Crestech’s strong domestic reputation.
Penspen has been active in Sub-Saharan Africa since 1972 and carried out a number of strategic projects in Nigeria including the Escravos – Lagos Gas Transmission System and Nigeria’s National Petroleum Products Pipelines and Depots.
Comments Off on Penspen Awarded ADNOC Sour Gas Pipeline Project Work
Penspen, a leading global provider of engineering and project management services to the energy industry, has been awarded a contract by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Sour Gas for the provision of project management consultancy services for a new sulphur pipeline project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The scope of work for Penspen includes the PMC of the detailed engineering and procurement phase as well as a construction phase. Also to be completed by Penspen is the provision of personnel for a wide range of roles such as projects controls, health and safety, as well as contracts, procurement, environmental and design engineering specialties.
ADNOC Sour Gas is one of ADNOC Group’s gas producers, and a joint venture company between ADNOC and Occidental Petroleum (OXY). It is both a market leader in sour gas field development and a major international sulphur producer, processing one billion standard cubic feet of gas per day and providing 10% of UAE’s gas production.
Peter O’Sullivan, chief executive officer of Penspen, said: “We are thrilled to have secured this contract with ADNOC Sour Gas, for the provision of our expert services. Penspen has built a reputation in the Middle East as a reliable and established provider of services to the oil and gas sector and this project will, again, reinforce our expertise in the area.
“We have been operating in the region for some time now and it is fantastic for ADNOC Sour Gas to trust us with the vitally important services for its project.”
Penspen has been delivering its services to clients in the Middle East for almost 30 years. The company, headquartered in London, has an office in Abu Dhabi where the work for ADNOC will be delivered from.
Comments Off on International Women in Engineering Day 2018 Nadia Greuner
What first interested you about the engineering industry?
I didn’t know about it at first. I was doing medicine and wasn’t enjoying it at all. I only really liked anatomy and physiology, which is basically the parts and how they work. I wanted to switch but didn’t know what to do. I was flipping through a prospectus looking for ideas. I took a look at Dentistry… and kept reading when I got to E… engineering. I had never heard of it as an option for girls and realized this was it! This is what I want to do!
How did you start your career?
I started out at university doing a foundation year while I worked, doing both full time to be sure I liked it before I fully committed to being an engineer. When I went to Newcastle University, I attended graduate fairs in my first year to learn names and contacts in the industry and added them on LinkedIn. I then went to a gradate fair in my second year, armed with my polished and printed CV. I asked every company there if they were considering summer interns and even if not, to please take my CV for consideration. I then followed up with every company for weeks. In the end, I went for 3 interviews and accepted a placement with none other than Penspen. I did the same in my third year but I wanted a different experience, so I went to do a materials specific internship. When I graduated, I had made contacts within the industry and already established myself as an ambitious and determined engineer, so finding a job as a post-graduation wasn’t too hard.
What advice would you give to women looking to work in the engineering industry?
There is sexism – but only slightly more than you’d get in any other industry and generally only by a few different cultures. For example, the older generation that are not used to having women in the industry. It has already evolved in the 9 years I have been in the oil and gas industry, and for the better. The only thing that could hold you back is yourself. If you’re going to make your mark in the industry, you are going to have to be excellent. You will be scrutinized more as a woman but you will be respected for your hard work. My advice is to do your best to go after what you want – no one can ask any of you more than that – and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
What does your role involve?
I am both a Project Manager (PM) and an Integrity Engineer. I manage larger projects and am the PM Policy go to person for the North East. Not only do I work as a PM but I get to do some of the technical integrity work on both my own and other projects, which means I get to keep it interesting.
What do you enjoy most about working in the engineering industry/working for Penspen?
I find working in the engineering industry varied and interesting. I like a challenge and learning new things, or I get bored. As a PM/Technical Engineer, there is always something different to work on, especially at Penspen given the type of work we do. I enjoy the matter of fact attitude most engineers take and the straight forward nature of the work we do. Integrity is about predicting the future or trying to find the reason behind something; you’re basically a psychic Poirot on the nerdiest treasure hunt ever!
What would you recommend about your role to young women and girls?
You get the freedom to be yourself. No one cares about how you look, just your capability and willingness to learn. This is one of those rare occupations where your passion can truly drive your career. Not only that, but given the few women in the industry, there is a lot of peer support and mentoring available to our ladies. Don’t be put off by the misconception that a mechanical engineer holds a spanner and gets covered in grease every day. That is a choice we make. We can go to work in Louboutins if we want to. It is not only for men. Follow your passion and learn about the opportunities available to you. Do internships, ask for tours and chats, call up HR or local universities to put you in touch with alumni. You have to do your day job almost every day for the rest of your life – you might as well enjoy it!
Comments Off on International Women in Engineering Day 2018 Emma Wheeldon
What does your role involve?
Travelling around the country fixing gas leaks! Working as part of a team, providing gas maintenance to our clients, which includes commissioning, de-commissioning, full asset overhauls, functional checks and cathodic protection readings, to name just a few!
How did you start your career and what is your advice to women who want to work in STEM?
I graduated from University with a degree in Business Accounting. However, I soon realised this was not the career path for me! I began working at Industrial Ancillaries as a Business Development Manager and gained some site experience in the way of hose assembly skills, small bore integrity, pipe bending and compression fitting appreciation. In May 2016, I joined the Business Development team at Penspen and shortly after that progressed into a Procurement role. In April 2018, I received a call asking if I would be interested in becoming Penspen’s first female Technician! I jumped at the chance and here I am…
Advice to other females in this industry – just do it, hold your own and take every opportunity that comes your way!
What are you most looking forward to about working in your new role and what will be the most challenging about it?
I’m really looking forward to improving my technical capabilities and knowledge with further on the job training, as well as completing my NVQ in Engineering Gas Maintenance at our workshop in Neath. This will certainly be no easy feat!
What do you enjoy most about working for Penspen?
The people, working as part of a great team, amazing opportunities, new challenges, varied work, working in different locations across the UK… and driving a van.
What does it mean to you to be one of few females working in this type role across the industry in the UK?
I feel proud to be part of a company that strongly promotes equal opportunities for all. I have really appreciated the support that Penspen has given me.
How does this role differ from your previous experiences?
The majority of my previous work has been office based, now I am driving a lot, working with tools and trying to be technical!
Comments Off on International Women in Engineering Day 2018 Clare Robinson
I grew up in a refinery town in the Middle East, where my father and most of his friends were engineers. I was probably a little bit unusual in that I loved helping my dad fix things and could often be found under a car ‘helping’. Problem solving is the most important aspect of engineering – even if something is working, engineers always want to try and make it better.
I studied Chemical engineering at Birmingham University, where only 10% of the undergraduates were female. I chose the oil and gas industry because I wanted to work in a design office. I thought that I could work on numerous different projects and there were more opportunities in design than in plant operation. I worked in London for a while and then worked at the refinery where my father had worked. I spent a year re-designing the trays and cooling system for the main crude distillation column for a sixty year old refinery. The reality of working with equipment that had been repaired, recycled from other places or just designed for a completely different crude was a bit of a shock. No neat solutions there.
Luckily, I came back to London and have been working at Penspen ever since. The variety of work has been interesting. Although, when I say that I design oil and gas pipelines, pumping stations and compressor stations, people outside the industry still look a little bit confused. I try to encourage others into this interesting world by advising at careers evenings at local schools. In my spare time I am a Civilian Instructor with the Sea Cadets. I am supposed to be teaching the Junior Cadets how to row, tie knots and navigate. However, they have also learnt about the differences between diesel and petrol engines, fluid flow and the molecular behaviour of gases and liquids.
Comments Off on International Women’s Day 2018 Lisa Barnes
How did you start your career?
I studied Geology at University, with a plan to go into Museum Curation. My first job was in Customer Service for an IT Network Solution Provider. I have built up a good variety of skills since then working in Customer Service (Bayer), Production Planning (Walkers Snack Foods, Dow Corning), Supply Chain Management (Dow Corning), Business Development, Operations and Maintenance Management in Upstream oil and gas and more recently in Industrial Chemicals.
My career at Penspen started as a Junior Project Engineer and has since involved: Health & Safety/Management of the Neath Workshop and its inventory; an Energy Assets Regulator Refurbishment Project and NGN PV4 Hazardous Area Drawing Document Control & Planning.
What does your role involve?
My role involves: delivery of the maintenance schedule; problem solving and supporting the teams on a daily basis; checking and signing off completed work; assisting with HR queries; client liaison; equipment sourcing; supporting supervisors in other areas and working with the Planning department to ensure most efficient plan to meet client and Penspen requirements.
What made you want to work for Penspen?
The role presented a chance to extend my knowledge of gas supply from exploration into people’s homes! (Still some tenuous link to geology!!) I have good knowledge of global Exploration & Production companies and I have enjoyed working in Upstream oil and gas. It’s great to be able to work for a local company with a global presence, in an industry I enjoy.
What are the best bits of the job?
The best bits are working with the team, solving problems and delivering what our clients need. There is a really good atmosphere in Neath and I’ve made some great friends. Oh, and driving a forklift!
What are the challenges of the job?
It’s challenging not being able to meet or spend time with the teams as much as I’d like. Also, not being able to see problem jobs in-situ and having to deal with them remotely. There are a lot of variables that need to be taken in to account when planning/assigning work that I’m still getting to grips with.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into a similar role?
Believe in yourself, take opportunities that come your way and make the most of them. Don’t be afraid.
Comments Off on International Women in Engineering Day 2018 Nadia Linkleter
Education- That Difficult Choice
Whilst growing up, I was encouraged to play with Lego and Meccano (which I encourage my own kids to do now too). I’m sure that that played a small part in my career choice, as it encouraged me to be challenged, structured and to solve problems.
When it came to A-levels, I picked the subjects I was good at and enjoyed: Maths, Physics and German – such a mixed bag! For some, it is difficult to know what you want to do with your life at 16, however, I enrolled onto a 6-month Engineering Education Scheme (EES) project whilst at school, linked to National Rail. I worked on a real life project and this, I believe, inspired my career direction. I was fortunate that my school had decided to engage with the EES scheme and found the teachers extremely encouraging.
I later chose to study Mechanical Engineering at Newcastle University, as it excited me the most and I believed it to be the best way to ensure a varied and rewarding education. I was one of only 7 women out of approximately 120 candidates on my course that academic year. This didn’t deter me and I not only learnt Spanish (and spent my 3rd academic year in Spain as part of a 4 year MEng course) but also managed to secure sponsorship with British Gas half way through my studies. This provided me with invaluable (paid) holiday work placements and helped me to secure a place on their 2-year Graduate Training Programme after graduation.
What I Do Now
I have now been a woman in engineering for the last 23 years. I have had exposure to: digging up holes in the road to repair gas distribution pipelines; watching new pipelines being constructed; sending ‘intelligent pigs’ through pipelines to inspect them; working with pipeline operators and presenting to international clients. I am currently a Chartered Engineer with the IMechE and work as a Pipeline Integrity Consultant at Penspen Ltd., which is a specialist pipeline engineering consultancy firm.
On a very basic level, I ensure a pipeline is designed, operated and maintained in a safe manner to avoid leaks or ruptures. A leak can not only be catastrophic, expensive to repair and affect the environment but can also (most importantly) put people’s lives at risk.
My day at work varies depending on the type of project I am involved in. This can be assessing defects detected in oil and gas pipelines, carrying out risk assessments, or recommending repairs and rehabilitation strategies for pipeline systems. I have had the opportunity to work with international companies and travel to some interesting places as part of my project portfolio.
Concerns Young Women May Have
The engineering and specifically the oil and gas industries, which I am in, are still very much male dominated. I estimate only 8% of engineers are women. You don’t see many women on construction sites, out in the field or on platforms at sea but that is slowly changing. I often attend meetings with 15 men and not only are women in the minority but most of the men are also much older than me. Pipeline construction sites, power stations and refineries can still be intimidating places but generally people are friendly and respectful. I find that people respond to the level of professionalism you show. It’s important to prepare thoroughly for every meeting, develop good relationships and ask the right questions. This helps with learning and building confidence.
Why YOU Should do Engineering
I truly believe it is an interesting and rewarding career and one which develops an extensive range of skills. There are many different avenues one can follow within engineering, from being the technical ‘genius’ to the person that markets skills and wins business for the company. These skills are transferrable anywhere in the world and there is plenty of opportunity to work internationally, if that’s what you would like to do. I really enjoy my job and find every day varied and challenging, which makes my job interesting and hence rewarding.
My Thoughts on Careers in Engineering
A career in engineering is challenging, enjoyable and rewarding. If you enjoy maths and any of the sciences, you should consider it. There are hundreds of different types of engineering routes; pretty much everything we see, everything we eat, buy, our trains and cars, homes and offices would not be possible without engineers.
My advice would be to try and get involved with a challenging project or get some work experience in an engineering firm to really understand what it’s about. Speak to your teachers, career advisors or ask for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) presentation to be given at your school to provide some insight. Also, discuss your options – you can get into engineering through apprenticeships and don’t have to have a degree.
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I grew up in a refinery town in the Middle East, where my father and most of his friends were engineers. I was probably a little bit unusual in that I loved helping my dad fix things and could often be found under a car ‘helping’. Problem solving is the most important aspect of engineering – even if something is working, engineers always want to try and make it better.
